There are advice only advisors which are mentioned elsewhere in this thread who provide planning and advice and you execute the plan and trades. You can find them at adviceonlynetwork/com. There are flat fee advisors who typically are small botique outfits and focus on planning and passive investment management aligned to your needs and plan. They frequently do detailed cash flow and tax planning amongst other services. We have had a flat fee advisor for 9 years and feel it is well worth it for risk management, peace of mind, addressing blind spots, minimizing mistakes and planning to meet goals.
Ive answered before also (many times).......I care about it because 1-it protects against longevity risk, 2-it maximizes the SS income after the delay, 3, it produces more without full taxation (for us that's 85%), 4-it provides room for Roth conversions during the delay, 5. it provides a higher benefit to my wife after I pass. Amongst other points..
As a long-time client of a flat fee retirement financial planner, investment management is far down the list of reasons why we use his services. Many flat fee advisors use a simple passive investment approach that many DIYers use that is aligned with the client's goals and the financial plan developed from them. Well above investment in prioritization for us is developing a clear written financial plan based on goals and, in no particular order, tax planning and optimization, estate planning, cash flow analysis, health and long-term care and risk management, amongst many others. A thought leader in the flat fee planning world, Andy Panko, who has a financialplanningeducation website and FB group, wrote an article about the "value" of a planner a few years ago which basically concludes much of the value cannot be measured quantitatively. How Much Are Your Services Worth?, Financial Planning Articles for Financial Advisors & Wealth Managers
The stock market is not nearing bear territory by generalized definition. It is nearing, or at Correction, which is down 10%. The generalized recognized threshold for a Bear market is down 20%. Corrections are far more common than Bears. I'm not concerned in a correction, and we are prepared for a 10-year Bear.
I think it is a positive change. I understand why they were there originally but they came to be increasingly abused from the original intent causing unnecessary distraction and drift from the positive direction of the community.
The cited article from Kiplinger's references recent work done by David Blanchett and Michael Finke on "License to Spend", something they have published on previously (and I have mentioned here in previous comments). I'm a fan of these guys but just vary a bit from their proposal of annuities as the single discretionary solution to other sources of guaranteed income like pensions and Social Security. We use a rolling 10-year TIPs ladder which, unlike annuities, accounts for inflation. Full disclosure: We also have QLACs, deferred annuities, in our retirement accounts, for income later on and a degree of longevity insurance.
Reduce the cash position by 10% and transfer to international funds. 2. Gradually reduce the single stock position and add to stock funds splitting between international and domestic,
The question for me is not just how steep the drop but, more importantly, how long it lasts. In my mind there is a difference between volatility and a prolonged downturn. I was past mid-career in 2008 when my retirement accounts took a 50% + hit and it took until 2013 for a full recover even with dollar cost averaged bi-weekly contributions. In hindsight, I benefitted from that very scary time because I still was working and contributing. But lots of folks had to unretire. We plan for a 10-year downturn so basically have an 11-year floor of fixed income. That addresses the concern for us.
Comments
Income limits and lack of Roth 401ks at many employers.
Post: Something to Think About
Link to comment from April 25, 2026
There are advice only advisors which are mentioned elsewhere in this thread who provide planning and advice and you execute the plan and trades. You can find them at adviceonlynetwork/com. There are flat fee advisors who typically are small botique outfits and focus on planning and passive investment management aligned to your needs and plan. They frequently do detailed cash flow and tax planning amongst other services. We have had a flat fee advisor for 9 years and feel it is well worth it for risk management, peace of mind, addressing blind spots, minimizing mistakes and planning to meet goals.
Post: Financial Planning
Link to comment from April 25, 2026
Ive answered before also (many times).......I care about it because 1-it protects against longevity risk, 2-it maximizes the SS income after the delay, 3, it produces more without full taxation (for us that's 85%), 4-it provides room for Roth conversions during the delay, 5. it provides a higher benefit to my wife after I pass. Amongst other points..
Post: Rethinking the “Right” Time for Social Security
Link to comment from April 25, 2026
As a long-time client of a flat fee retirement financial planner, investment management is far down the list of reasons why we use his services. Many flat fee advisors use a simple passive investment approach that many DIYers use that is aligned with the client's goals and the financial plan developed from them. Well above investment in prioritization for us is developing a clear written financial plan based on goals and, in no particular order, tax planning and optimization, estate planning, cash flow analysis, health and long-term care and risk management, amongst many others. A thought leader in the flat fee planning world, Andy Panko, who has a financialplanningeducation website and FB group, wrote an article about the "value" of a planner a few years ago which basically concludes much of the value cannot be measured quantitatively. How Much Are Your Services Worth?, Financial Planning Articles for Financial Advisors & Wealth Managers
Post: One Good Call?
Link to comment from April 18, 2026
The stock market is not nearing bear territory by generalized definition. It is nearing, or at Correction, which is down 10%. The generalized recognized threshold for a Bear market is down 20%. Corrections are far more common than Bears. I'm not concerned in a correction, and we are prepared for a 10-year Bear.
Post: Any concern?
Link to comment from March 28, 2026
I think it is a positive change. I understand why they were there originally but they came to be increasingly abused from the original intent causing unnecessary distraction and drift from the positive direction of the community.
Post: Let the Arrows Speak for Themselves
Link to comment from March 28, 2026
The cited article from Kiplinger's references recent work done by David Blanchett and Michael Finke on "License to Spend", something they have published on previously (and I have mentioned here in previous comments). I'm a fan of these guys but just vary a bit from their proposal of annuities as the single discretionary solution to other sources of guaranteed income like pensions and Social Security. We use a rolling 10-year TIPs ladder which, unlike annuities, accounts for inflation. Full disclosure: We also have QLACs, deferred annuities, in our retirement accounts, for income later on and a degree of longevity insurance.
Post: Forget the 4% rule.
Link to comment from March 7, 2026
Post: Critique my investment strategy or lack thereof
Link to comment from February 28, 2026
The question for me is not just how steep the drop but, more importantly, how long it lasts. In my mind there is a difference between volatility and a prolonged downturn. I was past mid-career in 2008 when my retirement accounts took a 50% + hit and it took until 2013 for a full recover even with dollar cost averaged bi-weekly contributions. In hindsight, I benefitted from that very scary time because I still was working and contributing. But lots of folks had to unretire. We plan for a 10-year downturn so basically have an 11-year floor of fixed income. That addresses the concern for us.
Post: How Far Back Would a 40% Drop Take Us?
Link to comment from February 21, 2026
Actually. this is widely misunderstood... They have 10% probability of adjustment. Not failure.
Post: Maximizing Lifetime Retirement Spending
Link to comment from February 7, 2026